Carlos Sainz (ESP/Audi, winner of the 2024 Dakar) speaking to the L’Équipe channel: “I’m very happy because it’s a bit of a special victory with this very special car and this incredible team. Audi has made a car totally different from the others. It was difficult but we managed to finally achieve this victory. We had good speed, good rhythm and a good strategy. But also a great team with very good teammates. And we did everything well. (about the future) For now, I will think about this victory, then it will be time to think. »
Sébastien Loeb (Prodrive, 3rd in the 2024 Dakar, winner of the last stage): “We have a great final special. We attacked mainly to avoid being eaten by Guerlain (Chicherit, 4th in the general ranking). I knew he was going to be motivated and we could get caught in the dust (going far away today). In the end, we came out well. So a final podium… Considering the situation we were in yesterday (Thursday), sitting on a stone waiting for the assistance truck, it’s not so bad. In the end we did a good special, we took time from Guillaume (De Mevius, 2nd overall) but I wasn’t really thinking about second place.
(on the Dakar as a whole) We have a fragility with punctures, compared to the exhaust which heats the tires, this will be modified for next year (with the new Dacia branded car). It doesn’t help us and indeed, the car is fragile. It’s great when you stay within the limit but beyond that you can quickly break, sooner than the others. We know, that’s how it is. We will try to resolve this for next year. This year, against a team like Audi who put everything together, it was difficult. »
Guillaume de Mevius (Toyota, 2nd in the 2024 Dakar): “It’s magical for my first Dakar in Ultimate (the premier category) to finish between Sainz and Loeb! It went well, we were consistent throughout with not many punctures. The podium, I dreamed of it, but I had to be realistic. We stayed in 4th for several days and I knew that something could happen ahead, that the 11th stage would be tough and that we would have to do something about it. We did the Morocco rally hoping to get a place in the official team… We didn’t get it but thanks to the help of Guerlain Chicherit and Overdrive Racing, we are here and we managed to demonstrate that we were worth it. »